Why Shadowfax? Our cluster is so fast that we named it after the Lord Of The Rings character!

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Tuesday, November 15, 2016

CIS(theta), 2016-2017 Oct + Nov Meeting: Ubuntu Install Fest!

CIS(theta), 2016-2017

Oct + Nov Meeting: Ubuntu Install Fest!

NOVEMBER UPDATE I **********

We had a huge problem installing Teamviewer. When you go to the download page for Linux you find a discussion of their version for 64bit PCs under "multiarch." So I tried to install the multiarch *.deb file. I couldn't complete the install as there were several unmet dependencies. This is usually not a problem. Just go to the Ubuntu Software Center and search for the listed missing *.deb files or try something like:

sudo apt-get install libpng12-0

Problem is that some of these files were removed from the Ubuntu 16.10 repositories! So I looked for the missing dependencies on:

http://packages.ubuntu.com

and tried something like:

sudo dpkg -i libpng12-0

Well, I found the missing file under the 16.04 repositories and I installed it. However, Teamviewer's installation still did not complete???

So, I opened a Teamviewer ticket and waited about 2 days to get this response (I'll try it on Monday at school):

"Dear Jorge,

Thank you for contacting TeamViewer.

Please use this workaround to install TeamViewer.

To make all TeamViewer dependencies available on Ubuntu 16.10, make sure you perform the following steps:

#optional remove the line 'deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ xenial main universe' from /etc/apt/sources.list using your favorite editor with sudo priviledges

Commands tested on Ubuntu 16.10.2

If you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

Christian Cay

Technical support representative"

NOTE: teamviewer_i386.deb is not a 64bit package. So, you will need to start this process in the command line with:

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

sudo apt-get update

NOTE: if you FUBAR your dependencies table:

sudo dpkg --configure -a

sudo apt-get install -f

NOTE: if you don't know your Ubuntu version:

lsb_release -a

NOVEMBER UPDATE I **********

NOVEMBER UPDATE II **********

In the mean time, I've been experimenting with Chrome Remote Desktop (CRD). It's a bit of a bear to set up the host PCs in class on Ubuntu, but the clients at home are easy. All you need to do is install the Chrome browser (if you don't already have it) and go to the Chrome Wedapp Store to install CRD. Then login with our AP CompSci gmail address (apcs429@gmail.com) and click on your PC! That was easy, right?

Now, that wasn't too bad, was it? Wait, hang on to your hats! CRD cannot display a 3D Accelerated Desktop like Ubuntu's Unity. So, you have to install a 2D Desktop!

I tried lxde but it was way too retro!

sudo apt-get install lxde lxde-common

and add file

~/.chrome-remote-desktop-session

with this one line

exec /usr/bin/startlxde

So, I tried:

sudo apt-get install gnome-session-flashback

which actually installs the Metacity 2D Desktop. To get a Metacity Desktop running in display:0, you need to logout and select the desktop from the login screen.

There's one last SNAFU! I could not get CRD to start Metacity in another display like I did with lxde (so you can login remotely without bothering the user on that PC). So, I left the host PCs logged into Metacity and made CRD use display:0.

To accomplish this:

sudo gedit /opt/google/chrome-remote-desktop/chrome-remote-desktop

and set

FIRST_X_DISPLAY_NUMBER=0

also comment out

#while os.path.exists(... % display)

# display += 1

BTW, if you FUBAR your CRD, just:

sudo service chrome-remote-desktop restart

NOVEMBER UPDATE II **********

We reinstalled the back row of our PC Classroom/Lab with the newest version of Ubuntu Desktop 16.10 Yakkety Yak 64bit!

Wine did not open windows executables from permissions anymore so we needed executable scripts for our TI Graphing Calculator emulators, Wabbit and kArmTI. We may even add Wabbit to the startup apps menu.

Apt-get couldn't find kate or wine-stable on some PCs after a fresh install. That's odd, since all the PCs were installed exactly the same way. Anyway, we'll have to change the software sources in the Ubuntu Software Center (USC) in some cases before we using apt-get or dpkg.

We hit only one major snag. Teamveiwer would not install as Yakkety Yak sees it as a 32bit application. The Teamviewer website says we should download the multiarch version for Ubuntu 16.10 but we still had no joy! We tried using USC to install the *.deb file, maybe we should try:

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The Calculus & Computer Science Archive ProjectOnline Since 1988

This site is here to help new and experienced teachers alike. Over the years I have developed many materials for several courses that I teach regularly. I have taught AP Computer Science since 1987, College Math since Fall 1993 and AP Calculus since 1994.

These materials have been edited and re-edited for ease of use in the classroom every time I have a chance to teach these courses. I have had many requests to share my materials at the conferences I frequent, whence this website.